History

If you major in history at ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø, you¡¯ll be in a program nationally recognized for innovative teaching of history. You¡¯ll learn through experiencing history ¡ª it is possible ¡ª instead of just memorizing facts.

Becoming historically minded, you¡¯ll develop skills it takes to solve contemporary problems: data analysis, empathy, information literacy, perspective-taking.

You¡¯ll choose one of five Compass Points to fit your current passions, career goals and vision for the future:

• History communication ¨C How the public engages with the past (for museum studies, library science, digital history, journalism, documentary-making, historic preservation).
• Social change ¨C What history tells us about current inequalities and social change (social services, human rights work, religious work and more).
• Nations and global politics ¨C Complex interactions between people and systems, local concerns and global movements (law, politics, international relations, public relations, peace studies).
• History education ¨C Learning to teach not just history, but historical thinking (for teaching in the secondary schools).
• Information analytics ¨C Tailoring your major to your particular goals (examples include civic and workplace leaders in STEM, sales, business, health fields, and more).

Distinctions

• ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø offers a major and minor in history, and a history teaching major.
• More than 50% of history students double-major. History is ideal for combining with any study of the intersections of people, places and cultures: geography; sociology and anthropology; religion; political science; women, gender and sexuality studies, and more. Most pre-law students choose a history major.
• The six faculty members all have a Ph.D. and are leaders in innovative education methods, published research and international programs; one was honored as the Illinois Professor of the Year.
• ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø history professors encourage and guide students to study abroad, take internships and participate in academic conferences ¡ª and $2,000 with Augie Choice supports any of these experiences.

Recent grads

• Maja Johnson '23 is in Uppsala University's Master's Programme in Scandinavian Studies in Uppsala, Sweden.
• Stephanie Carreno '23 is a special collections assistant for the McHenry County Historical Society and Museum in Union, Ill.
• Fatima Dominguez '22 is a case manager for The Landing in Houston, Texas.
• Lauren Hall '22 is a social studies teacher at Edison Junior High School in Rock Island, Ill.
• Rosalie Looijaard '22 is a Ph.D. candidate in philosophy at Boston University.
• Matt Payton '22 is a special education teacher at Sterling High School in Sterling, Ill.
• Monica Thompson '21 is a J.D. candidate at Saint Louis School of Law in St. Louis, Mo.
• Mikaela Ferrara '20 earned a master¡¯s in museum studies from George Washington University and is a collections intern at the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C.
• Rob Williams '19 is the ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø assistant director of admissions for the Chicagoland region.